Viper snares 'laugh-out-loud' thriller from Wallace

Viper has snapped up two novels from debut author Joanna Wallace. 

Miranda Jewess, publishing director at Serpent’s Tail’s crime imprint, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights,  plus, audio to You’d Look Better as a Ghost and a second book from Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown.

You’d Look Better as a Ghost will be published in September 2023 as Viper’s lead debut title. The screen production rights have been optioned by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The novel is a "darkly humorous thriller" following the trials and tribulations of Claire, a part-time serial killer who sees people as ghosts before they die.

"Claire specialises in dispatching irritating people – queue-jumpers, incompetent hairdressers, sub-par care workers – but is knocked off course when she is forced to attend a bereavement support group after the death of her father," the synopsis reads. "Mindfulness and emotional sharing are bad enough, but when she realises that someone in the group has discovered her murderous habits, Claire must set out to discover who has put her deadly hobby in jeopardy."

Jewess commented: "Claire is a fabulous character, utterly nonplussed by ‘normal’ people and their peculiar ways. Jo gives her an amazing voice, and by the end of the novel you can’t help but agree with her morally bankrupt outlook. This book is often laugh-out-loud funny but also packs an emotional gut punch that really creeps up on you. I’m so pleased that Jo will be published by Viper so we can send Claire out into the world together."

Wallace added: "As soon as I met Miranda Jewess, I knew I wanted to be a Viper! She and her team are so brilliant at what they do and I’m thrilled to be joining the powerful, dynamic imprint they have created. The phenomenal Viper authors have been so welcoming to me, and I’m beyond grateful to my agent Cathryn for making all of this possible."